Fish Biologist

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service • Essex Junction, VT

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

You will serve as a Fish Biologist within the Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Lake Champlain Fish & Wild Conservation Office, Essex Junction, Vermont. This role involves coordinating field activities, participating as a technical expert, planning and scheduling tasks, leading team members, ensuring inventory and procurement, and performing statistical analysis on data to support conclusions and recommendations. You will also prepare and deliver presentations at professional meetings, conferences, and symposia.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• Required to wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards.
• Required to obtain and maintain a Motorboat Operator Certification Course (MOCC).
• Required to obtain and maintain a Certified Pesticide Applicator License.
• Must be able to lift and move 60lbs.
• May be required to serve a 1-year probationary period.
• All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 10/22/2026.
• Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
• For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application.
• For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient.
• For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume must state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week.
• Degree: major in biological science that included at least 6 semester hours in aquatic subjects such as limnology, ichthyology, fishery biology, aquatic botany, aquatic fauna, oceanography, fish culture, or related courses in the field of fishery biology; AND at least 12 semester hours in the animal sciences in such subjects as general zoology, vertebrate zoology, comparative anatomy, physiology, entomology, parasitology, ecology, cellular biology, genetics, or research in these fields. (Excess course work in aquatic subjects may be used to meet this requirement when appropriate.) You must submit transcripts.
• Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in biological science (i.e., at least 30 semester hours), of which a minimum of 6 semester hours were in aquatic subjects and 12 semester hours were in the animal sciences, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
• Experience: To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: 1) Drafting works plans to meet program objectives; 2) Analyzing scientific data and drawing conclusions from the data to recommend management actions; 3) Collaborating with professional scientists and other representatives on fisheries concerns and/or research; 4) Preparing reports of scientific findings and delivering presentations at professional meetings, conferences, and symposia. You must include hours per week worked.
• Education: Successful completion of at least 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in the biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or closely related field which provided the knowledge skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position. You must include transcripts.
• Combination of education and experience as listed above.
• Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social).
• Must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience.
• Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs.

Nice To Haves

• Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates field activities with other federal and state agencies, local public officials, and the general public to advance and advise on sea lamprey control activities in Lake Champlain.
• Participates as technical expert on sea lampreys in subgroups of the Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife Management Cooperative and multi-agency task forces.
• Plans, coordinates, and schedules tasks based upon workload and program priorities.
• Leads members of team to complete work plan objectives and other field activities following appropriate protocols and safety policy.
• Ensures inventory and procurement of equipment, materials, and supplies to meet operational needs.
• Responsible for the proper use, care, and maintenance of equipment used in field operations, including HPLC systems.
• Draws conclusions from complex data to recommend control actions.
• Performs statistical analysis on data to support conclusions and recommendations.
• Uses appropriate software tools to draft reports and illustrative materials.
• Prepares and delivers presentations at professional meetings, conferences, and symposia.

Benefits

• A uniform allowance will be provided.
• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Review our benefits

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree